What are the schools like in Carthage, NC?

Carthage is served primarily by Moore County Schools. The district operates 13 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 18.0:1.

What is the median household income in Carthage?

The median household income in Carthage, NC is $55,469 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.0%.

What is the weather like in Carthage, NC?

Carthage has an average high temperature of 52.6°F in January and 90.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 47.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 1.3 inches.

Carthage, NC Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Carthage, NC affordable or expensive?

Carthage's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Carthage is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $188,400 and the median rent is $850 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Carthage, NC?

Carthage has a violent crime rate of 176.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2254.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Carthage, NC a Good Place to Live?

Carthage is a small town of 2,779 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $55,469 and a 2.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Carthage stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Carthage is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Carthage city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 92.4

Carthage's overall cost of living index is 92.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Carthage costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Carthage, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$188,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$850	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	78.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$55,469	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Carthage's violent crime rate is 176.1 per 100,000 residents — 54% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

176.1 /100k

Property Crime

2254.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Carthage is served primarily by Moore County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.0:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Carthage, NC	National Avg
School District	Moore County Schools	—
Elementary Schools	13	—
Middle Schools	5	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	18.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Carthage sees average highs of 52.6°F in January and 90.3°F in July, with 47.8 inches of annual precipitation and 1.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Carthage, NC
Average High — January	52.6°F
Average High — July	90.3°F
Annual Precipitation	47.8"
Annual Snowfall	1.3"

Demographics

Metric	Carthage, NC	National Avg
Population	2,779	—
Median Age	43.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	77.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	15.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.6%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	22.8%	22.2%
65 and over	22.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Whispering Pines, NC 6 mi Vass, NC 9 mi Taylortown, NC 9 mi Cameron, NC 9 mi Southern Pines, NC 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Carthage

Carthage, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

28327

Carthage vs Other Cities

Carthage, NC vs Whispering Pines, NC Carthage, NC vs Vass, NC Carthage, NC vs Taylortown, NC Carthage, NC vs Cameron, NC Carthage, NC vs Southern Pines, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Carthage, NC affordable or expensive?

Carthage's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Carthage roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $188,400 and median rent is $850/month.

What is the crime rate in Carthage, NC?

Carthage's violent crime rate is 176.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2254.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Carthage?

Public schools in Carthage are operated by Moore County Schools. The district has 13 elementary, 5 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.0:1. 20.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Carthage, NC a good place to live?

Carthage, NC has a population of 2,779, a median household income of $55,469, and an unemployment rate of 2.0%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Carthage?

Carthage averages 52.6°F in January and 90.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.8 inches with about 1.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Carthage?

Carthage, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 28327.

What is the population of Carthage?

The population of Carthage, North Carolina is 2,779 with a median age of 43.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Carthage?

Key numbers for living in Carthage: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $188,400, median household income $55,469, crime index 71 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Carthage side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.